17-Month-Old Baby In ICU After Police Raid Wrong House

Elyria Police in Ohio raided the wrong house, which resulted in a 17-month-old baby being put in the pediatric ICU.

The alleged cause of injury to the baby was the use of two flashbangs.

The mother said the Elyria PD did not apologize for their mistake.

Watch the traumatic incident here:

This is crazy .@ElyriaPolice y’all are some tyrants https://t.co/YSofxsJa5K

— Hodgetwins (@hodgetwins) January 13, 2024

Cleveland 19 News shares more on the story:

An Elyria family said they are furious and traumatized after they say dozens of police officers raided their home for no reason.

The family claims the Elyria Police Department had the wrong house and say they blame the department’s recklessness for putting their newborn in the hospital.

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The search happened Wednesday just before 2:15 p.m. at a home on the 300 block of Parmely Ave.

Police say the search warrant was executed at the correct house.

The Jennings family’s Ring camera captured the horrifying moments the Elyria Police Special Response Team broke down their front door in the middle of the day on Wednesday.

25-year-old Courtney Price was staying at her aunt and uncle’s home on Parmely Avenue in Elyria with her 1-year-old son, Waylon May. She and Waylon were the only ones home when she heard a loud bang.

Police say they used to diversionary devices known as “flash-bangs” outside the house. The devices produce sound and light and are intended to distract the suspect.

Police say these devices do not produce burns and do not contain pepper gas or chemical agents.

Police entered the home after repeated announcements and found a woman and her 17-month-old toddler.

Price said she was stunned as she watched Elyria police bust through the front door

“All I seen was lights flashing and smoke coming into the house,” she said..

Folks online are not happy about the ordeal:

Cops raid the wrong house hurting a newborn and the family needs our help ! Elyria PD in Ohio did this to a baby and a mother this is what happens when your police force turn into a occupying force and no long serves nor protects.https://t.co/G5rOMKqXW5#JusticeForWaylon https://t.co/hYOOt7ojIi

— Joe Smith SDK (@JoeSmithSDK) January 13, 2024

I’ve always supported local law enforcement, it’s a thankless job.

But… law enforcement needs to support itself by dropping severe penalties on its tactical leadership when this shit happens. Redundant target ID is 101-level tactics.

Cc: @ElyriaPolice https://t.co/c84DgE6670

— TimOnPoint (@TimOnPoint) January 13, 2024

More from Cleveland.com:

“I kept yelling for my baby,” Price said in an interview with cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer Friday night. “The officers were in the home, searching the home. The baby was clearly laying there suffocating turning red, blue, and they all just walked by him. Nobody went to him.”

Elyria Police said detectives, paramedics and the mother assessed the condition of the child, confirming that the child did not sustain any apparent, visible injuries.

Redia Jennings, Price’s aunt, has been renting the home since February 2023. She said Elyria Police have come to the house multiple times before Wednesday searching for the same suspect, who she said is a previous tenant.

“There’s been five different occasions that detectives and CPS and officers have showed up at my house looking for (the suspect). They’ve been told numerous times he does not live here,” she said.

Waylon is in the pediatric ICU at University Hospitals, Price said Friday. She said he was diagnosed with chemical pneumonitis, has burns all over his body and is struggling to breathe.

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